ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 18, 17 December 1938, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. “GRANDAD RUDD.” To-night at (he Regent, something extra special, and something with an appeal of interest to Palmerston North is to be ®ptecned. No less than a return season of "'Grandad Rudd” in all its glory, and with all its peculiar style of hilarious comedy, brings again to us tho “On Our Selection” and “Dad and Dave Come to Town” favourites—Dad, Mum, Dave, Joe, Sarah and the whole family. For the greatest laughter treat of your life, meet “Grandad Rudd,” when Bert Bailey, who recently appeared in person at the Regent in Palmerston North, “brings” tho famous character and his equally famous family to tho screen again. Prosperous now, with troubles and hardships things of the past, tho Rudd favourites, with an increase in the family, are at t.heir hilarious best in “Grandad Rudd.” “Grandad” does not do any hard work these days; all he does is to keep a tight rein on tho family purse, and makes a darn nuisance of himself to everybody who is trying to do a bit Of work around the place. “Cripe6, ain't ho a beaut,” roars Dave, when the old man, feeling that ho has been too generous in promising Lil that ho would raise Dave’s salary from £3 to £3 16s, goes straight to Dave and puts the rent up 10s a week! “These aro days of sacrifice,” he points out to the disgusted Dave. “Didn’t I give up £SOOO, a seat in Parliament and a gold pass?” “Yes,” roars Dave, “by 560 votes!” And so the laughs go on, with “Grandad” setting the pace and always having the last say. He organises a Rudd cricket team to play tho Regans, under “Rudd Rules,” and once again tho Rudds win, but not before you have rolled off your scat laughing. Uf course “Grandad” makes the winning hit, the ball goes down a well, and when the old man couldn’t run any more, they brought out a wheelbarrow and wheeled him up and down the pitch. Honestly, you’ll scream! But no more than you also will when “Mr Rudd and Party” visit the local school, and Garndad asks tho youngsters questions he couldn’t answer- himself.

MAYFAIR THEATRE. “BULLDOG DRUMMOND IN AFRICA” _ Right in line with tho present difficulties over international spy rings is the latest “Bulldog Drummond” mystery film, “Bulldog Drummond in Africa,” screening at the Mayfair Theatre to-night. The story, of course, comes from tho pen of 11. C. “Sapper” MeNeile, creator of the over-popular “Drummond” character. With tho theft of military secrets as its central theme, the picture shows the length to which determined spies will go to carry out their plans. They include the kidnapping of “Colonel Nielson,” the head of Scotland Yard, and his removal from his English country estate to the Moroccan hill country, the posing of one spy ns u British diplomatic official, tho bombing of an aeroplane attempting to rescue “Nielson” und, finally, the use of medieval tortures to extract secrets from unwilling victims. John Howard, appearing as “Bulldog Drummond” for the fourth time, will be seen in the title role. Newcomers to the “Drummond” cast include tho lovely Heather Angel, the English star, who has the role of “Phyllis Clavering,” H. B. Warner, cast as the head of Scotland Yard, and J. Carrol Naish, who plays the leader of the spy ring. “THE MYSTERIOUS RIDER.” Zano Grey’s latest tale of life in the raw Western cattle country, “The Mysterious Rider,” is the second attraction. As the

hero of his new story Grey has chosen one of the most unusual and colourful characters ever to come from his pen. 110 is a masked rider, played by Douglas Dumbrille, who rides about the Arizona desert country handing out a rough-hewn justice at the point of a six-shooter and biding his time until he can settle old scores with men who sent him into exile for a murder they themselves committed. The masked rider flies into action when his enemies take advantage of his long absence to try to make away with the ranch and cattle of his grown-up daughter. a girl he has not seen since sho was a baby. By means of taking a job as puncher on her ranch in disguise and working hand-in-hand with her daring sweetheart, Russell Hayden, Dumbrillo succeeds in routing his enemies and making his daughter’s happiness secure.